United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Wildlife Services Directive

1.205

March 12, 2019

POLICY DEVELOPMENT, REVISION, AND APPROVAL

1. PURPOSE

The Purpose of this directive is to provide guidelines for policy development, revision, approval, 

and distribution. 

2. REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

This directive replaces Wildlife Services (WS) Directive 1.205 dated June 21, 2013.

3. AUTHORITY

Authority to promulgate a policy is pursuant to The Act of March 2, 1931, (46 Stat. 1468; 7 USC 

426), as amended:

Section 426. Predatory and other wild animals.

“The Secretary of Agriculture may conduct a program of wildlife services with respect to 

injurious animal species and take any action the Secretary considers necessary in 

conducting the program. The Secretary shall administer the program in a manner

consistent with all of the wildlife services authorities in effect on the day October 28, 

2000.”

4. POLICY

a. Agency employees may express the need for a new WS policy or recommend 

changing an existing one. Requests should be submitted to their supervisors for forwarding to 

the Director of the Operational Support Staff (OSS).

b. The WS Management Team must approve all WS policies prior to becoming 

national policy. The Deputy Administrator, or designee, has final approval authority and must 

sign all national level WS policies or revisions to become valid. 

c. The Deputy Administrator may waive, in specific cases and for limited periods,

any provision of a WS Directive in order to permit: 1) appropriate and necessary action in the 

event of a public health emergency; or 2) evaluation of new procedures, equipment, or chemicals 

being considered to facilitate wildlife damage management improvements. Such waivers must

not conflict with the purposes or provisions of any applicable regulation or statute.
Wildlife Services Directive 1.205 page 2

d. The OSS will conduct periodic reviews of existing policies for accuracy and for 

providing updates.

5. BACKGROUND 

Clear policy and operating guidelines are essential for effective, organized implementation of the 

WS program. Establishment of and adherence to a comprehensive, carefully developed set of 

policies ensures that program activities are conducted in a professional and responsible manner. 

Because of the importance of policy in guiding and conducting the WS program, policies will be 

developed with careful review and consideration of potential consequences.

6. IMPLEMENTATION 

a. The WS Deputy Administrator and OSS will respond to suggested changes and, if 

necessary, gather background information. An ad hoc committee may be established with 

membership selected from program staff appointed by the Deputy Administrator. 

b. The WS Deputy Administrator may determine that a suggested new policy does 

not have national application and may recommend that it be issued at the Regional or State level 

(WS Directive 1.101, The Wildlife Services Policy Manual). OSS will be responsible for 

ensuring that proper APHIS, WS format is adhered to in new policies. 

c. OSS will distribute drafts of new policies or major revisions of existing policies to 

Directors, State Directors, and Research Managers for review and comment when such reviews 

are determined by the WS Deputy Administrator to be warranted.

d. OSS is responsible for posting online new policies or revisions and for 

distributing documents to Regional and State offices. Managers and supervisors will be 

responsible for providing copies to their employees. 

7. APPLICABILITY 

This policy applies to WS employees. 

8. REFERENCE

a. WS Directive 1.101, Wildlife Services Policy Manual (06/20/13).

Janet L. Bucknall

Deputy Administrator